CBD and Mental Health

May 10, 2019Posted by: Joe Powers

If you find that you are struggling with anxiety, take comfort in the fact that you aren’t alone. In fact, roughly 20% of the population struggles with anxiety in some form. Depending on the severity, it can be a mild inconvenience or a serious issue that can cause problems both in your professional and professional life.

One surprising tool that you may have in your arsenal for this issue is CBD oil. Many people have become to realize the benefits of this oil for a variety of different issues. Even those who have no interest in medicinal marijuana are starting to use this alternative for issues such as pain management. In fact, it’s so popular that wholesale CBD is considered an ideal option for many businesses.

However, there’s still a lot of confusion regarding exactly what this option can do and how well it works in that regard. This article will cover some of the fundamental traits of the option, and what we know about how it can help with anxiety and general mental health.

The Basics

Basically, this oil is a plant-based oil combining chemicals called cannabinoids. These chemicals are naturally produced by the body when we’re relaxed and secure, or after we get proper sleep and exercise. To stimulate these feel-good responses, the cannabinoids attach to receptors in our body. Cannabinoids have more of a pronounced effect than you may think, with this system of chemicals and receptors helping reduce inflammation, modulate pain, and even run our digestive system.

Note that while many people may feel good after taking this alternative, it isn’t a high like recreational marijuana. For example, this option is made from hemp, which derives from the same original plant as marijuana. However, hemp has no THC, the chemical that provides these psychoactive effects. Because of this, CBD from hemp is legal in all 50 states, including those that have no medicinal marijuana programs.

This option is available in a variety of different forms, from oils to capsules to even infused foods. Your doctor will guide you to the right delivery system based on your needs and preferences.

How Does It Help?

With all of this in mind, we can get into the deeper question of whether or not this option is valuable for mental health. As it turns out, not only is this the case, but the growing interest in it means a rising amount of scientific evidence affirming its benefits. For example, there are several scientific studies that show that usage in animals and humans can help reduce feelings of isolation, reduce autism symptoms, and help reduce effects of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

What’s a little less clear at the moment is how exactly this oil has some of these effects. Some experts believe it’s due to the fact that it helps support the healthy function of the hippocampus, a part of the brain that’s essential for healthy emotion and memory. But what about social anxiety, specifically? According to one study, this alternative actually helped reduce signs of social anxiety in a manner similar to the common drugs ipsapirone and diazepam. Other studies have targeted specific mental health/brain issues such as psychosis and childhood epilepsy. With interest in it growing, it’s likely that we’ll see more developments in these areas soon.

It’s important to note that this option is not designed to reduce or supplant other types of anxiety/mental health treatments, such as getting regular therapy, using certain rituals and practices to relieve stress, or making healthy lifestyle and dietary changes. Instead, you should use this option as a complement to all of these. Equally important is making sure that you keep your doctor in the loop when you are thinking about using it, as well as your progress while using it. This way, if any issues arise, your doctor can help guide you on the best way to integrate this alternative into a proper mental health regimen.

With this said, some people may have specific concerns regarding using this option, but it’s proven to be safe for a variety of situations. For example, the FDA-approved use of this option has been studied for use in children and adults alike. Another major benefit is that unlike opioid drugs, this alternative helps to relax the body and reduce pain, without suppressing the breathing centers of the body. Studies show that your average dose of 10mg to 100mg a day doesn’t lead to any negative effects. One consideration that is worth making is how this oil can interact with other medications that you may be taking. Because of the way the liver works, it may impact how your body processes these other drugs. This is part of the reason that it’s important to talk to a doctor or medical professional before taking this or any other sort of additional supplement.

Another concern people may have when it comes to using this alternative is whether or not it will cause a positive result on a drug test. Again, however, this is a minimal concern. By nature, this option has little to no THC, meaning, in theory, it’s unlikely to lead to a follow-up test. In addition, the follow-up test for marijuana is too specific to get a positive result specifically from this. However, you do want to make sure you buy your CBD from trusted companies that make it with minimal THC. If you’re still unsure or want to play it safe, you may want to talk to your employer about this oil before using it or consider another alternative.

One other point that we should address when it comes to taking this option for mental health is whether or not you want to try and get it through CBD-infused products. Chances are that you’ll see a variety of different CBD-infused foods and beverages in stores these days, and while they aren’t necessarily bad for you, it’s difficult to get a consistent dosage from these. As a mental health supplement, you’re better off getting a high-quality oil that you can have in an exact dosage.